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Copilot Search: find the right file using natural language
You know the document exists, but you just can't find it. Copilot's « Search » section scans all your enterprise content (SharePoint, Outlook, Teams…) and understands a request phrased in plain language. Filters, sources, recent or shared content, and even a prompt launched straight from a file: here's how to make the most of it.
✅ How to
- 1What is Copilot Search?It's Copilot's intelligent search engine, reachable via « Search » in the left menu. Unlike a classic keyword search, it uses AI to understand what you're looking for and digs through your whole work universe: files, people, messages, your company's content. The landing page already offers shortcuts to your colleagues and apps (Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, Power BI…). Just type in the bar to start a search.
The « Search » section and its universal search bar.
- 2Search in natural languageNo need to guess the exact file name. Write your request as you'd say it to a colleague: « Find me a document about the brand kit ». Copilot reads the intent, not just the words, and surfaces the most relevant items: files, folders, presentations, each with the author, the modified date and a snippet. You can tell right away if it's the right one.
- 3An AI-written answer, with its sourcesOn top of the results list, Copilot writes a real summary: it tells you which document looks most complete, cites other useful ones, and shows its numbered sources at the bottom of the answer. That's the difference from a classic search: you don't just get a list of links, but an answer that guides you, with the ability to check every source in one click.
- 4Refine with filtersToo many results? Use the filters above the list: Person (who created or edited the file), Type (PDF, Word, PowerPoint…) and Modified (today, this week, this month…). For example, combining Type: PDF and Last week keeps only recent PDFs. Each active filter shows as a tag you can remove by clicking its cross.
Combined Type: PDF and Last week filters, removable in one click.
- 5Target a specific sourceYou can tell Copilot where to look. The « Filter by Source » button (and the Sources panel on the right) limits the search to SharePoint, Outlook, Teams, and so on. Tip: simply type « source: » right in the search bar, and Copilot offers the list of available sources (M365 Copilot Chats, SharePoint, Outlook Mail, Teams, Calendar, Power BI, Viva Engage, ServiceNow…). Handy to say « find this, but only in my emails ».
Type « source: » to choose where to search (SharePoint, Outlook, Teams…).
- 6Recent, Shared, Favorites: act directly on your documentsEven without running a search, the page puts your content within reach, split into three tabs: Recent (your latest opened files), Shared (what's been shared with you) and Favorites (what you pinned). Better still: next to each document, a button lets you launch a prompt straight on it. One click on « Ask » or « Ask for an entry » and Copilot opens the exchange on that file, without you reopening it. The perfect bridge between finding a document and working with it.
- 7What to rememberCopilot Search is Google for your work universe, but smarter: you phrase your request in natural language, the AI grasps the intent, writes a sourced summary and surfaces the right files. You refine with filters (person, type, date), target a specific source, and from recent, shared or favorite content, you can launch a prompt in a single click. Enough to stop wasting time searching, and spend more of it doing.
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